How many country's flags can you name on sight?
While the majority of us struggle to remember our parents’ phone numbers, Ayaan Shah can not only memorise numbers but also identify the flags of more than 100 countries. And he can do all of this at four-and-a-half years old.
Ayaan Shah at SBS studio in Melbourne Source: Supplied by Danyal Syed
How it all began
It all started when he was just 21-months-old. While out on a family trip, Ayaan was at the airport with his parents, Milan and Hemali Shah.
Fascinated by all the different coloured flags displayed on the flight charts, Ayaan asked his mum about them. And just like that, he was hooked.
A few months later, when he was two-years-old, Ayaan’s parents sent him to an early childhood education class (Shichida).
"We wanted to make sure that Ayaan learns to use his entire brain, and not just the ‘left brain’ to understand concepts and remember them," says Ayaan's mum.
Ayaan uses education methods taught at the Shichida centre to enhance and use his memory to remember flags, their capitals, phone numbers, credit card numbers and a lot more. Not just that, Ayaan’s parents love to take annual trips around the world and through these international trips, Ayaan got to learn about a lot of different countries, their languages and other interesting facts.
This tiny tot is also learning abacus and to play the piano.
Source: Supplied by Danyal Syed
Ayaan with his parents Milan and Himali Shah at SBS Studio in Melbourne Source: SBS Gujarati
"Ayaan is not just focusing on studies," says Ayaan's father. "He loves to swim and run. He says he wants to become like Usain Bolt or Milkha Singh when he grows up."
Ayaan is also learning Spanish from his cousins who live in United States over the phone. He speaks to his cousin once every fortnight and learns new words and phrases in Spanish.
What’s next in store for little Ayaan?
Ayaan aims to learn how to apply vedic maths and how to play chess, as well as preparing for an international competition organised by his learning centre in Melbourne. Three- and four-year olds from all over the world will be coming to Melbourne to compete for an award.
So with so many activities, doesn’t Ayaan feel pressured?
“Absolutely not”, says his father Milan. “None of these activities are forced upon him. He decides what he wants to learn. If he does not show any interest in a particular activity, we stop them at once.”
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